Snow handling apparatus



Aug.8, 1944. V a M, HODSDON 2,355,160

SNOW HANDLING APPARATUS Filed Aug. 6. 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet I 'fog/ZW y e @bgfff/ fz 507! e' v, u, u v o v/ jJWf/M//wdm Aug.8,1944. s. M. HObSDON 2,355,160

.SNOW HANDLING APPARATUS Filed Aug. 6, 1943 2 Sheets-.Sheet 2 8 I INVENTOR.

Patented Aug. 8, 1944 UNITED STATES PATENT DFFICE sNow HANDLING APPARATUS Sumner M. Hodsdon, Ludlow, Mass. Application August i6, 1943, serial N6. 497,666

Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in snow handling apparatus.

The novel features of the invention are directe to improvements in portable snow handling apparatus and is characterized by novel mechanism associated with a vehicle for removing snow in a direction transverse to the path of movement of the vehicle. 9

According to special features of the invention the apparatus includes a track structure having a exible carrier guided for movements therein' with scoops or shovels associated with the carrier. The track structure is constructed and arranged to provide a lower run ofy the carrier that is substantially horizontally transversely disposed'relative to the direction of movement of the apparatus wherebxT the scoops act similarly to a snow shovel in removing snow towards the side of the roadway or walk.

Various novel objects and advantages ofthe invention will be hereinafter more fully referred to'in connection with the accompanying description of the invention in the form at present preferred.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a. front elevational view of an apparatus for snow removal embodying the novel features of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a sectional plan view on the line 2`2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a side elevational view of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 4`is a sectional view on the line -4--4 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view on the 1ine55 o Fig. 4; and p Fig. 6 is a section through one of the scoops showing a brush associated therewith.

Referring now to the drawings more in detail, the invention will be fully described.

-A vehicle is shown in Fig. 3 which has a platform 2 supported by wheels 6 and `8 with a handle I0 for moving the vehicle, or for controlling the movements thereof.

A`'I'he snow handling equipment later to be described is carried by the platform and in normal operation the vehicle is moved to the right in Fig. 3. The end of the vehicle on which the snow handling apparatus is mounted will be called the forward end.

Means for operating the apparatus is provided and in the form of the invention shown is an internal combustion engine I2 having the usual iiywheel on the drive shaft thereof. An electric motor may be used, if desired, or other source of power.

A track structure is provided and is represented generallxr by 29. The track is continuous and it has a, pair of outer track sections 22 and a pair of inner track sections 24, see Figs. 4 and 5. yThe members of the pairs are in the form of channels With the outer pair spaced from the inner pair, as shown. -The parts forming the track may be secured together by brackets in the forni of Us there being numerous brackets such as 39 to 49 inc. In this manner the several track forming elements are held together-to form a strong rigid structure.

A sprocket 44 is fixed to a shaft 46 rotatable in a bracket orbrackets 48 secured to the track structure. Idlers 55 are rotatable on shafts 52 fixed in brackets 54 that are fixed tothe track structure. i

An endless flexible carrier which may take the form of a chain 56 is in engagement with the sprocket 44 and passes around the idlers B all of which are so located that the chain is disposed around the track structure. Any type of chain may be Aused but the form shown as in Fig. 5 includes links 56 having hooks that arl'e hooked into adjacent links.

Plates 58 are carried by certain links of the chain, depending on the spacing desired, and these have depending ears 6B. Rods 64 pass through said ears and'have rolls'66 and 68 thereon that are disposed so as to run in 'the pairs of channels constituting the track as shown in Fig.4. i

Scoops 'l0 have brackets l2 xed thereto-which are iixed to the rods 64'andas the chain is moved counterclockwise in Fig. '1 the scoops are moved in that direction toremove snow from in front of the vehicle by carrying it to the right and more A or less upwardly at the side of the apparatus.

To maintain the scoops 1B in their proper position,` rods 'It extend from the inner ends ofthe rods 64 and have end portions 'I8 on Whiehare rolls 8l) that ride in track sections 24 rearwardly of rolls 8U.

Other rolls82 are journalled in the rod parts 'I8 for riding along the Wall 84 of the track sections 24.

The rolls 66 and 158 in their respective channels and the rolls 83 and 82 cooperate to .hold the rods 64 and thereby the scoops 10 in proper position so .that the scoops on the lowermost run of the .chain operate to act on snow and move'Y it to the right in Fig. 1. As the scoopspass upwardly and outwardly at the right the snow is more or less piled up.

A sprocket 88 on the motor shaft is connected by a chain 90 to a sprocket 9| on shaft 46 whereby the chain carrying the scoops is operated.

An idler wheel 92 is carried by a lever 94 pivoted to a bracket 96 and an adjusting screw 98 of the lever engages the platform to serve as a tightenin-g device for the chain 90 should the samebenecessary.Y f f A rod extends between brackets 30 and 38 of the track structure and a member |02 has parts |04 slidable on said rod |00. A disc |06 on the motor shaft has a link |08 pivoted thereto in an Yoffset relation and the other end of said link is pivoted to one of the members |04. As the motor shaft rotates the member |02 is reciprocated back and forth.

A plurality of vertically disposed members ||0 are carried by the member |02 and the parts are preferably sov arranged that the members H0 are reciprocated back and forth forwardly of or in advance of the scoops vl0 for the purpose of breaking up and loosening snow to be acted upon by the scoops. Y Y l Rods |20 extend upwardly from the platform and the brackets 30, 32, 34 and 38 have hub parts that are slidable up and down thereon, see Figs. 2 and 3. By this means the track structure may be raised and lowered to position the scoops l0 in the lower run of the chain as may be desired relative to the walk or roadway.

A bar |30 extends between the rods |20 and a screw |32 rotatable therein is in threaded engagement with a bracket |34 on the track structure so that by rotating the screw |32 by means of a handwheel |36 the track structure may be raised and lowered.

As stated, the Ynormal direction of movement in the operation of the apparatus is to the right in Fig. '3. The track structure which may be raised and lowered at the forward 'end of the vehicle is such that the chain carrier is guided so as to have a lower horizontal run disposed transversely to the direction of movement and that. extends into an angularly disposed run. With such an arrangement, the scoops move the snow to the right of the apparatus and upwardly so as to pile it to the right in Fig. 3.

The members ||0 function as means to break up the snow in front of the vehicle as it advancesso that it is easily handled by the scoops.

In some cases it may be desirable to provide brushes |40 on the ends of the scoops as in Fig. 6 which may be arranged to sweep the roadway or walk as the scoops traverse the same.

The invention may be embodied in other specic forms without departing from the essential characteristics thereof. Hence, the present embodiments are therefore to be considered in all respects merely as being illustrative'and not as being restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description, and all modifications and variations as fall within the meaning and purview and range of equivalency of the appended claims are therefore intended to be embraced therein.

what it is desired to claim and secure byLetQ' ters Patent of the United States is:

l. Snow handling apparatus comprisingy in a lower substantially horizontal run disposed transversely to the direction of movement of said vehicle, scoops carried by said carrier, agitating means mounted on the track structure for movement in opposite directions in planes parallel to the path of movement of the carrier, and operating means for said carrier member and agitating means.

2. Snow handling apparatus comprising in combination, a lwheeled vehicle, a track structure'on said vehicle for supporting and guiding a continuous flexible carrier member so that it has a lower substantially horizontal run disposed transversely to the direction of movement of said vehicle, scoops carried by said carrier, agitating means mounted on the track structure for movement in opposite directions in planes parallel to the path of movement of the carrier, and operating means for said carrier member and agitating means, said agitating means disposed adjacent the outer side of said scoops.

3. Snow handling apparatus comprising in combination, `a wheeled vehicle, a track structure on said vehicle for supporting and guiding a continuous flexible carrier member so that it has a lower substantially horizontal run disposed transversely to the direction of movement of said vehicle, scoops forwardly of and outside said track structure and means connecting the same to said carrier member, agitating means disposed adjacent the forward sides of said scoops mounted on said track structure for movements back and forth in planes parallel to the path of movement of said carrier member, and operating means for said carrier member and agitating means.

4. Snow handling apparatus comprising in combination, a wheeled vehicle movable in a certain direction, a track structure mounted for vertical reciprocating movements on said vehicle and means to reciprocate the same, said track structure supporting and guiding a flexible carrier member so that it has a, lower horizontal run disposed transversely to the direction of movement of the vehicle, scoops forwardly and outside 'of said track structure and means connecting the same to the carrier member, agitating means disposed adjacent the forward sides of :said scoops mounted on the track structure to combination, a wheeled vehicle, a track structure on said vehicle for supporting and guiding a continuous flexible `carrier member so that ithas'i combination, a wheeled vehicle movable in a, certain direction, a track Astructure mounted for vertical reciprocating movements on said vehicle and means to reciprocate the same, said track structure supportingv and guiding a vflexible carrier member so that it has a lower horizontal run disposed transversely to the direction of movement of the vehicle, scoops forwardly and outside of saidtrack structure and means con- `necting the same to the carrier member, agitating means disposed adjacent the forward sides of said scoops mounted on the track structure to move back and forth in planes parallel' to the path of-movement of said carrier member, and

` operating means for .said carrier member and A agitating means, said agitating means including 'a main member having spaced members secured thereto.

SUMNER M. HODSDON. 

